Knee decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee and foot disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a direct link between these conditions and his service or any service-connected disability. The Board also found that the veteran did not have a diagnosed bilateral hip disorder.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including medical examinations and a nexus opinion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, hearing loss of the right ear, pseudofolliculitis barbae with keloid formation on the back of the neck, and posterolateral ligament reconstruction of the left knee are denied as there is no evidence meeting the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluations of his left knee disorder and instability was granted, with a 10 percent evaluation maintained for the arthrotomy with excision of semilunar cartilage and a separate 10 percent evaluation assigned for lateral instability.

The RO denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable rating for his left ring finger fracture residuals, post-operative left wrist disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence from a previous VA examination and requests for more recent treatment records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left and right knee arthritis, as well as his cervical spine DDD. The evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and lack of recent medical evidence. The appellant's claim for service connection for a left knee disability will be reconsidered after obtaining additional information about her military service, treatment history, and conducting further examination.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his fatal cardiac arrhythmia was not caused by any disease or injury incurred in service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to their severity, as his educational and occupational background allow for substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected arthritis of the right knee is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation.

The veteran's increased ratings for his right knee and left thigh disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current schedular ratings adequately reflected the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has vacated the June 2005 decision and remanded the case due to missing medical evidence from 1996 to 1999. The veteran's left knee disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, with arthritis shown by x-ray findings, painful motion, and not more than mild limitation of flexion.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia with degenerative joint disease, finding that his condition did not warrant a higher rating based on current symptoms and medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee pain secondary to patellofemoral syndrome, as well as reopened the claim for bilateral otitis media. The veteran's complaints of knee pain during service have been confirmed by post-service medical records.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current left knee disorder to his service-connected right knee disabilities, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the bilateral knees is due to an injury sustained during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as SSA disability benefits records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need to obtain SSA medical evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, neck and back disabilities were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.